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Subscribe to RSSObama goes unchallenged on Hispanic media … Could the GOP use a man like George W. Bush again? … The gender gap … New polls in OH, FL show toss up, Obama expands lead in PA … China issue to become political hot potato … Today’s veepstakes audition – Bob McDonnell … Romney should address Grennell issue … and Elizabeth Warren finally addresses Native American controversy.
By NBC’s Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, Natalie Cucchiara, and Brooke Brower
Charles Dharapak / AP
President Barack Obama's campaign has yet to see any competition from the Romney campaign on Hispanic media outlets.
*** Obama unchallenged on Hispanic media: Restore Our Future, the pro-Romney Super PAC, is up today with a $4.3 million ad buy across nine battleground states. But what’s been amazing is that even though the president is getting outspent by outside groups left and right, the one place opponents aren’t even COMPETING is on Hispanic media outlets. Republicans are not on air on Hispanic media AT ALL so far, according to NBC/Smart Media Delta. President Obama, on the other hand, is going unchecked for two weeks, spending $435,000 – and $730,000 total so far this cycle – through mid-May with Hispanic media buys in Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. If the president is wining by huge margins with Hispanics and women (more on that below), the math becomes very precarious for Romney. Look at those states where the president is advertising: Colorado, Nevada and Florida. Can Romney win the White House without winning at least ONE Western state?
Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guang, who according to U.S. officials had eagerly embraced a plan to stay in China with his family, now says he is anxious to leave the country. The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
*** Could the GOP use a man like George W. Bush again? Republicans are rarely eager to tout the “Bush” brand these days, but, as the headline of this Univision article asks, “Is ‘Dubya’ the GOP’s missing link to Latinos?” We wrote about Romney’s challenge with Latinos last month, and it’s striking with the pivot to the general, that there hasn’t been more of an overt push to win over the group in ways that the Bush White House did. Former Bush Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told Univision earlier this week: “Gov. [George W.] Bush had some kind of personal quality that made it easier to connect with the Hispanic community, despite his privilege.” He added, “I’m not talking about a marketing campaign to sell himself [Romney] to the Latino community, that would be too slick. He has to develop some sense of trust that’s not there right now.” How the Romney campaign pivots and begins its wooing of Hispanics will be fascinating to watch. It’s a must-do for them especially if Romney finds himself facing a bigger gender gap than McCain dealt with.
*** Speaking of the gender gap: The Obama campaign up with an online tool, targeting women, using a made-up person named Julia, comparing Obama and what it’s dubbing the Romney-Ryan plan. Folks, in talking with Democratic strategists and watching the rhetoric that regularly comes from House and Senate Dems, it’s clear that the goal of the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party in general is to do whatever it takes to WIDEN the gap if it’s possible with women. We’re guessing a week won’t go by without some NEW effort by the Obama campaign to try and woo women. This online tool is an interesting “Sim City” attempt to try to put a face to their charges against Ryan. One state where the gender gap may be a hurdle: Pennsylvania; in particular those Philly suburbs. By the way, Restore Our Future (the Romney SuperPAC) isn’t advertising in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania, and two polls out, show Obama with high-single digit leads, up nine in Wisconsin and eight in Pennsylvania. A source in the know says Restore’s not up in Wisconsin, because it’s saturated right now with recall ads, and Pennsylvania just saw the ad for two weeks
*** Race tightens in Ohio, Florida: Romney may have some deficits with Hispanics and women to start, but the paths to 270 he has go through Ohio and Florida. And this morning, new Quinnipiac polling shows the races there have tightened and are pure toss ups. Romney leads Obama 44%-43% in Florida and Obama is ahead 44%-42% in Ohio (both within the margin of error). What’s also noteworthy from the poll is that two-thirds of people say we’re still in recession, but a majority also we’re starting to recover. It’s why the economy can be a more nuanced argument. People think the environment’s not good, but getting better. The Romney campaign is out with another in its series of “Broken Promises” videos, this one on energy. The RNC is starting a new message campaign against Obama called, “Hype and Blame” ahead of his campaign events Saturday. It’s going up with online advertising and bumper stickers as a fundraiser.
*** China hot potato: The “be tougher on china crowd,” which includes some Republicans and some Democrats, are going to pop up today, saying the Obama administration didn’t do enough for Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, especially after his release from a U.S. embassy and with Secretary of State Clinton and Treasury Secretary Geithner in China today for high-level economic talks. On cue this morning, House Speaker John Boehner’s out with a sharply worded statement, saying he’s “deeply disturbed” that Chen “was pressured to leave the U.S. embassy against his will amid flimsy promises and possible threats of harm to his family. In such a situation, the United States has an obligation to stand with the oppressed, not with the oppressor. Having handed Chen Guangcheng back over to the Chinese government, the Obama administration is responsible for ensuring his safety. While our economic relationship with China is important and vital to the future of people in both countries, the United States has an obligation to use its engagement with China to press for reforms in China’s human rights practices, particularly with respect to the reprehensible 'one-child’ policy."
*** Today’s veepstakes audition: Virginia Gob. Bob McDonnell is with Romney today in Portsmouth, VA, for a 1:15 pm ET event, where, by the way, former candidate Michele Bachmann is going to officially endorse Romney. McDonnell and Romney have campaigned together before, but this will be another chance to see how the two gel. By the way, though, with McDonnell and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker both up with ads talking about how good the economy’s gotten in their respective states, that complicates Romney bad economy message. In other veepstakes news, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal both talk education in New Jersey at the Alliance for School Choice National Policy Summit, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan holds “listening sessions” in Wisconsin, and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte holds a town hall in New Hampshire. Jindal’s on “Daily Rundown” today to talk education and veepstakes.
*** Romney should address Grenell: By the way, does Mitt Romney need to do a press avail to get the Richard Grennell question out of the way? The story hasn’t gone away. Sure it’s a “process” story. But, there’s more coverage of it today (see: The New York Times). Clearly, it does say something about the fact that, as we wrote yesterday, that Romney’s got to continue to look over his right shoulder. How much was this fear about creating a stir with social conservatives? It’s a tiny story that most aren’t following, but Romney has a big enough problem with suburban women. It’s the socially moderate, Independent, formally Republican women that the GOP is struggling with and stories like this can only make it worse.
*** Warren speaks up about Native American controversy: After days of not much of an answer, Elizabeth Warren admitted yesterday to listing herself as a minority in law professor directories: “I listed myself in the directory in the hopes that it might mean that I would be invited to a luncheon, a group, something that might happen with people who are like I am. Nothing like that ever happened. That was clearly not the use for it. And so I stopped checking it off. That was it.” “Asked whether she considers herself to be a minority,” the Boston Globe writes Warren said, “Native American is part of my family. It’s an important part of my heritage.’” And then she pivoted to hit Brown on women: “You know, if we’re going to ask questions about qualifications, maybe the most appropriate person to ask is Scott Brown. What does he think it takes for a woman to be qualified?” Brown, meanwhile, derided Warren as having an “elitist attitude” yesterday. The Globe also reported yesterday that Brown has gotten $2.9 million in donations from the financial sector, noting he “played a critical role in the battle over the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul.” And both candidates are up with ads (Brown here, Warren here) trying to tie themselves to President Obama.
*** Pro-Lugar poll has Lugar up 2: A pro-Lugar group – in a one-day poll – showed Lugar up 44%-42% over state Treasurer Richard Mourdock.
Countdown to Indiana Senate/Wisconsin recall primaries: 5
Countdown to Wisconsin recall election: 33
Countdown to Election Day: 187 days
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Leave a Comment:
It's only a matter of time before dems try to pass a bill that lets illegal immigrants vote as citizens. They already tried to give them reduced education costs. Leave it to america-hating liberals to try and give perks to people who are here as criminals.
We had two violent storms locally in the last month and damage is extensive. The storm chasers are coming in by the busload. They bring in all their illegal aliens and they violate safety rules. They don't pay any taxes and we had our first head on fatal crash by a drunk illegal last week. This is old news for most of us that have been displaced by this new reality that foreigners have the right to game the system and law abiding citizens just have to grin and bare it. The difference is that now they have the blessing of the White House, and he has put it in writing that no illegal alien will be deported for just taking your job. Romney is the first deportation candidate since Dwight Eisenhower. He needs to ceed the Hispanic vote to Obama and enjoy the multitudes of law abiding citizens that will deposit him in the White House.
Take down the for sale sign. Obama has sold the country out to Mexicans. Standby for the eviction notice we will be receiving shortly.
I just hope the Latin and Hispanic communities understand the issues. Immigration is not the main issue today, its jobs and taxes. The recession has hit the Latin and Hispanic communities the hardest and they probably make up a good portion of the 50% of Americans that pay taxes, because they do not have the deductions that most Americans have. Obama has not done anything on those two issues, you do not create jobs by using taxpayers money and fair taxes is every Americans pays. Immigration reform will come, and it will take more than Obama who wants to give a free ticket to all those presently in the nation, that is a disgrace and unfair to all those immigrants who have paid their dues and done it right. We need a business man in the White House and one that is open to idea not depended on party lines. Romney fits that bill. I believe he not a hard conservative nor is he a strict liberal, he will hear both side and then decide on the best course, not like Obama, who model his administration on dictating what should be done, and will do what ever to get it done, his way.
why do you think odumbo does not want the borders closed
This is news? Of course Obama has the hispanic media and pretty much all the hispanic vote in his pocket. They cross the border illegally, walk into DSHS and automatically qualify for welfare, all thanks to the democrat party. Yes he has them in his pocket, us working stiffs just foot the bill.
Are the Hispanics going to replace blacks as the new democrat dupes?
Shows how much the regressive liberal indoctrination of Latinos in the nations scholastic system has confused them. That tradition has escaped them because of it. To even think latinos would give The Current President the time of day.
The NUMBER ONE political issue
to tackle, which incidentally will solve five major national financial problems
at once, is ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. The best way to CREATE JOBS is to deport all
illegal immigrants NOW. First that will create thousands and thousands of
seriously needed immigration and border patrol agent jobs right off the bat.
Second, as the illegal immigrants are removed and deported the jobs they leave
will be available for TRUE AMERICANS. Third, by having TRUE AMERICANS employed
then the TAXES WILL BE PAID to the government (instead of the employers of
illegal immigrants keeping that money to avoid being detected for employing
illegal immigrants). Fourth, by deporting illegal immigrants we SAVE OVER A
TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR as a nation since hard working TRUE AMERICANS currently
pay taxes to support THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE BEING USED BY THE
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO WILL NO LONGER BE HERE. (NOT COINCIDENTALLY THIS IS
ALMOST EXACTLY EQUAL TO OUR ANNUAL NATIONAL BUDGET DEFICIET) Fifth, we won't be
spending real taxpayer dollars on health (including anchor babies) education
and welfare on multiple fraudulent/fake identifications for each of these
individuals. And finally, as a BIG BONUS it will prove to America and the rest
of the world that we are serious about getting our country back on our feet
which is the biggest inducement (GLOBAL CONSUMER CONFIDENCE) that will be
immediately affected. America and the world need to witness this confidence. Finally, we will show everyone
we are serious about protecting our country and our borders from terrorists.
If
this border issue is going to be such a divisive issue I think we should
establish a DMZ zone along the entire border. Anyone caught in the middle, just
like in the Korea DMZ, is subject to be shot.
We should fill the rio Grande
with perahna fish and cotton mouth water moccocins.
If America
wasn't overrun with illegal immigrants from Mexico
then the Applicants in Mexico
who are following the rules for immigration wouldn't have to wait so long to
immigrate. Why would we let applicants into this country if we have too many
from that country here already, albeit even more so that they are here
illegally; otherwise all hispanics could care less about deportations.
It is
not hate, it is the law; a law that has been being abused by too many, for too
long. It is time to stop the abuse. We hate being abused. We want it stopped.
This is the way to stop it. We have an unemployment rate of 9.1%, 18 million
Americans unemployed while we carry 18 million illegal immigrants. We have $2.2
trillion annual budget deficit while illegal immigrants cost Americans $2.2
trillion a year in welfare, health care and education benefits. Have you no
sense of logic? The law needs to be applied equally in all situations to be
fair to all and effective. Believe me we are all understanding and sympathetic
but we can't allow the law to be abused. That is what is happening when people
come here illegally whether they did it yesterday or 50 years ago. If you let
people get away with this, then every other illegal immigrant and the potential
immigrants still in mexico will think they can also break the law and be
forgiven later like these people.
Send
them ALL back to be fair to all of them here, legally and illegally, and the
ones still in mexico
who want to be here legally and illegally.
We carry 13% of mexico's population here illegally
already. Should we invite 13% of the rest of the world to come on over? Lets
see with 7 billion people that is 850 million people to add to our 340 million
or add 3 for each one of us here now. A real estate boom? maybe but foreigners
tend to live like the illegal mexicn we have now 20 to an apartment. That is
just a start. Food? Clothes? Automobiles? Automobile accidents? nonlicensed
and undocumented auto owners. Fun stuff. Medical facilities-from all the
different germs they bring from the far reaches of the earth. I have to stop
there, I realize there isn't enough internet to finish
It is not
hate, it is the law; a law that has been being abused by too many, for too
long. It is time to stop the abuse. We hate being abused. We want it stopped.
This is the way to stop it.
We have
immigration laws to prevent many abuses-criminals, health concerns,
overcrowding and others. Right now there just too many illegal immigrants in
our country. We have long passed the man who sank the lifeboat using the
lifeboat paradox in which everyone wants in the lifeboat but too many will sink
the lifeboat.
We have
an unemployment rate of 9.1%, 18 million Americans unemployed while we carry 18
million illegal immigrants. We have $2.2 trillion annual budget deficit while
illegal immigrants cost Americans $566 Billion a year in welfare, health care
and education benefits and extraneous costs. Have you no sense of logic?
You might
think, "Well, just this one." But there are 50 states and Washington DC,
and if they all have the same attitude then we will still be violating the
spirit and function of the law thus alienating all those who have followed the
rule of law and those who are now following the rule of law by submitting to
the proper application process. Also those in mexsicko who might in the future
immigrate illegally.
The law
needs to be applied equally in all situations to be fair to all and effective.
Believe me we are all understanding and sympathetic but we can't allow the law
to be abused. That is what is happening when people come here illegally whether
they did it yesterday or 50 years ago. If you let people get away with this
then every other illegal immigrant and the potential immigrants still in mexico will
think they can also break the law and be forgiven later like these people.
Send them
ALL back to be fair to all of them here, legally and illegally, and the ones
still in mexico
who want toi be here legally and illegally.
"Many immigrants, both legal and
illegal, take jobs that few native-born Americans would willingly occupy." Americans are unwilling to take those jobs at the wage,
benefit and working conditions that criminals accept. If the employers would
pay The American Standard, Americans would take the jobs. By utilizing criminal
labor, employers can reduce their costs. As all employers, collectively, commit
this injustice that reduces the value of the outcome of their production
efforts, and again collectively, devalues our GDP and our country.
Its not
the work - ITS the MONEY. If farms would pay a decent wage then
Americans
would do the work but the farmers know they don't have to pay decent wages
because there are so many illegals here that will work for substandard wages in
substandard conditions for excessive hours with no benefits. (And democracy is
supposed to support human rights. This is the kind of capitalism overkill that
prompted child labor laws, building codes resulting from the sweatshop fires,
etc.)
We just need to continue to give them the incentive to leave. More
drug busts, more employer busts, more deportations. And announce that they will
all have 6 months to leave the country at which time they will be arrested and
DNA profiled and put on work camps near the border in the desert areas of Texas, New
Mexico and Arizona for two
years then they can walk home to mexico. Also after the 6 month
grace period we need to place a bounty on them. $10 a piece; $20 for any
employer who hires them and any landlord who houses them. Those landlords and
employers will be fined $1,000 per day for each illegal they house or employ.
I knew this country was in for hard times when the Senate minority "Leader" said that his "top priority was to make Obama a one term president." Not a single word about jobs.
TEApublicans are SO angry for the lies put out and funded by the Koch brothers and the top one percent. They forgot that it was under Dubya that the economy collapsed, Obama is trying to fix it with NO help from the obstructionist party of H*LL NO.
If Hispanic Americans (for lack of a better term) DON"T vote to re-elect President Obama, their plight will get NO better under a flip-flopper like the poster boy for the 1% Mitt (dog-on-the-car-roof) Romney.
Once the election is over and the GOP have no opportunity to take the White House, they will, hopefully, return to normal work habits and work with the Democratic party and get back to the task of getting this country's important needs repaired.
To support the party of the top 1% and H*LL NO is One Foolish Idea!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 and ANY non-GOP candidates down the ballot.
Wow, looks like someone got stuck in "Auto-Bull@!$%#" mode, again.
More illegals have been deported or otherwise left the country since Obama has been president than in the entire 8 years of Bush. Part of the reason is that the Obama administration has been rounding up illegal employers for a change. This has the effect of not only causing illegal employees to disappear, but the added benefit of discouraging one of the root causes of illegal immigration to begin with.
Of course, trade associations for personnel managers are OUTRAGED!!! How dare they arrest these fine Americans! And, when the place is crawling with illegals! No, really, that's how they think.
LOL
A month ago
Obama is targeting the workingclass
Last week
Obama is targeting college students
The week before
Obama is targeting women
This week
Obama is targeting Hispanics
Next week
Obama is targeting Blacks
Have Republicans forgotten this is an election year??
Obama is targeting AMERICAN voters
During the meantime,
Republicans have fought workingclass taxcuts
Republicans have alienated Hispanics with ridiculas immigration laws nearly outlawing being of Hispanic decent.
Republicans have alienated Blacks with voter suppression laws
Republicans have alienated women with anti-healthcare laws
Republicans have alienated Unions (30% of which are reg. Republican voters)
Republicans have fought student loan interest repair
Have Republicans decided to run ONLY on job creation and the economy?? They did so much "hard" work on those since the last election? How many job creation bills have they stomped on? While of course trying to shove through even more taxcuts for the rich,,,,,,,Will they attempt to take credit for over 2 straight years of economic growth?? Will they attempt to take credit for over 2 straight years of job growth??
This election is HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!
I'm not a Democrat, But like about 70% of Americans if the election took place today, Obama has my vote hands down
The chance that you're not a Democrat, is about as likely as "there are 70% of American's that will vote Democrat". Nice try, but definitely, no cigar. There aren't that many teacher's, Union worker's and welfare recipients, yet.
I think Obama has your vote hands up.........and keep them up....now empty your pockets.....get your hands up...
Hispanic media? He promised immigration reform in the last campaign, and did absolutely nothing on it! Even in the first two years his party had a majority in "both" houses!! Not one bill on this was even brought to the floor. Citizens of hispanic descent are not stupid, and no amount of money spent in the hispanic media is going to make them more gullible than they were in the last election! And I seriously doubt the citizens of hispanics descent believe adding over 12,000,000 illegal aliens to our population is going to improve their family's quality of life anymore than anyone else's in these difficult economic times!
Regardless of a lack of immigration reforms by Obama,,,,,,,,It sure beats Republican legislation basically making it semi-illegal to LOOK Hispanic ;)
Bo-1925019,
Which legislation is that? Can you be more specific, or are you just throwing that out there to look like you know something we don't?
Obama/Biden 2012!!!!
Anywhere but the White House!
Maybe the GOP isn't pandering to Hispanic media because the GOP is trying to fulfill the dream.
"the day when the color of someones skin won't matter"
The President is actively working to keep the color of someones skin an issue.
So, The Big O is gonna jump on the Brown bandwagon. Not a bad move, as soon the Browns in great numbers will populate CA, AZ, TX....all the way to FL. As they are propagating at great speed.
The liberals trust Obama to lead this country, like the octomom's kid trust that her breast milk won't be tainted. Blindly.
This is one "hispanic/latino" whatever...(just American)....who will not vote for this pinche maricon POTUS....he is the lair in chief....coward in chief....pos in chief....he has single handlely destroyed this country...and I am not even a damn RepubliCANT...